Speaking on Sky News, Ms Hartley Brewer praised Ms Hardman for the "classy" way she had handled the situation, after she passed the MP's name on to a whip.

She said: "The trouble is in the House of Commons there is quite a lot of grey areas about what is and what is not appropriate.

"Many years ago when I was political editor at the Sunday Express I was at a dinner at a Conservative Party conference with a couple of MPs.

The sun rises behind The Elizabeth TowerCredit:
JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP

"One of those MPs is now a member of the Cabinet. He kept putting his hand on my knee. The third time I removed his hand and said it is very simple, either you don’t put my hand on my knee again or I am going to punch you in the face."

She added: "I think its really strange for someone to think that its acceptable to walk up to someone of the opposite sex on the second or third time of meeting and say 'I want to talk to the Totty.'"

The journalist has refused to name the MP publicly

Ms Hardman said that she had chosen to talk openly about what happened because it “is about inappropriate behaviour in the workplace” and wanted the small number of MPs who behave like that “to know it’s not on”.

She has refused to name the MP publicly saying: “no social media witch hunt ever made anything better”.

On Monday the journalist wrote on Twitter: “Last night, an MP who I've only met a couple of times actually said to me as his opening gambit ''I want to talk to the totty.''

London Underground sign against the night sky

“Have been thinking about whether or not to tweet about it, but actually that is NOT on and lobby women shouldn't have to put up with it.

“So I have passed the MP's name on to a whip. I don't betray sources. But I will betray sexists.”

A couple of hours later she posted an update saying: “Whips have dealt with it and apology on its way from v. contrite MP.”